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pretty device containing the suggestive words “Farmer Peck’s”. A stranger might have
been excused for thinking that this was either the name of the engine itself, or a peculiar
appellation in some way or other concerned with the head of the Railway Department.
But amongst ourselves no explanation is needed, and the smart host of the well-known
Muizenberg hotel is no doubt quite entitled to the very graceful railway advertisement.
Beyond this graceful advertisement and the flags, however, there was nothing to
specially mark the occasion of the opening of this section of the new line. A semi-
official invitation had been issued to a number of townspeople to start by a special train
leaving Cape Town at a quarter past one and partake of a luncheon at Muizenberg. The
special train was despatched but during the morning it was intimated that those who
proceeded by it would have to pay for their own luncheon. The collapse of the official
opening caused considerable merriment in Cape Town. It seems that we have drifted
into such a condition of muddle that even so small a matter as the opening of the Kalk
Bay line cannot be properly managed.

The Cape Times Monday, 18 December, 1882.

THE LUNCHEON AT MUIZENBERG.- The luncheon was provided at “Farmer
Peck’s” on Friday last, although neither those who issued the invitation nor the invited
were present. At the sumptuous luncheon provided by Mr. Hirsch, there were only
twelve gentlemen present and they were all railway officials.

The Line proceeds to Kalk Bay

At the time of the doubling of the line to Wynberg, and the extension of single track to
Muizenberg, the Kimberley diamond rush was in action. This meant that top priority

was being given to construction of the railway to the North, and as a result the

government had no money to extend the line any farther than Kalk Bay. Before the
construction of the railway along the coast there was only a narrow dirt track next to the

sea and it facilitated ready access to any part of the shoreline. (Figs. 2.6 - 2.8). As
unique as our railway line is, its coming actually spoiled many superb beaches,

especially later on with electrification.

Nothwithstanding the picturesque scenes depicted in early photographs, Kalk Bay in

those days was viewed as a rather unattractive place to which the railway would bring
greater access, which in turn might be the stimulus to its improvement. At least, this

was the view of the Editor of The Cape Times.